Rock'n Coke: Difference between revisions
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'''Rock'n Coke''' was Turkey's biggest outdoor music event, a real landmark for culture here. Pozitif Live put it on, with Coca,Cola as the sponsor. From 2003 to 2013, Hezarfen Airfield near Istanbul turned into a huge festival city every year for a weekend. It wasn't just gigs; it was like a whole social thing, showing Turkish young people what the festival life was all about and connecting our music scene with what was trending in the West. | '''Rock'n Coke''' was Turkey's biggest outdoor music event, a real landmark for culture here. Pozitif Live put it on, with Coca,Cola as the sponsor. From 2003 to 2013, Hezarfen Airfield near Istanbul turned into a huge festival city every year for a weekend. It wasn't just gigs; it was like a whole social thing, showing Turkish young people what the festival life was all about and connecting our music scene with what was trending in the West.<ref>{{Web citation|author=dergy|newspaper=Dergy|title=Bugüne kadar Rock’n Coke’ta izlediğimiz unutulmaz performanslar|date=2026-01-28|url=https://www.dergy.com/bugune-kadar-rockn-coketa-izledigimiz-unutulmaz-performanslar/}}</ref> <ref>{{Web citation|author=Hürriyet|newspaper=Hürriyet Gazetesi|title=Rock’n Coke’a büyük ilgi|date=2006-06-24|url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/kelebek/rock-n-coke-a-buyuk-ilgi-4638999|retrieved=2026-01-28}}</ref> | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
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* '''Headliners:''' Arctic Monkeys, The Prodigy, Sigur Rós, Editors. | * '''Headliners:''' Arctic Monkeys, The Prodigy, Sigur Rós, Editors. | ||
* '''What it Meant:''' Arctic Monkeys showed how big Indie Rock had gotten in Turkey. | * '''What it Meant:''' Arctic Monkeys showed how big Indie Rock had gotten in Turkey. | ||
== The Downside == | == The Downside == | ||
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== Cancellation and termination of the event == | == Cancellation and termination of the event == | ||
The festival faced political pressure in subsequent years, and after the 2009 event, it was decided that the festival would be held every two years starting the following year. President Erdoğan described the young people making peace signs at the event as protesters. In 2013, a ban on alcohol companies sponsoring festivals was passed in parliament, eliminating the festival's largest source of funding. A farewell festival was held in 2013, and the festival came to an end. | The festival faced political pressure in subsequent years, and after the 2009 event, it was decided that the festival would be held every two years starting the following year. President Erdoğan described the young people making peace signs at the event as protesters. In 2013, a ban on alcohol companies sponsoring festivals was passed in parliament, eliminating the festival's largest source of funding. A farewell festival was held in 2013, and the festival came to an end. | ||
==References== | |||
<references /> | |||
Latest revision as of 18:43, 28 January 2026
 Official festival logo | |
| Status | It has ended |
|---|---|
| Genre | Rock, Alternative rock, Indie rock, Heavy metal, Electronic |
| Dates | Early September |
| Frequency | Annual (with interruptions) |
| Venue | Hezarfen Airfield |
| Locations | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Years active | 2003–2013 |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Coca-Cola |
| Attendance | 60,000+ (weekend total) |
| Organized by | Pozitif Live |
Rock'n Coke was Turkey's biggest outdoor music event, a real landmark for culture here. Pozitif Live put it on, with Coca,Cola as the sponsor. From 2003 to 2013, Hezarfen Airfield near Istanbul turned into a huge festival city every year for a weekend. It wasn't just gigs; it was like a whole social thing, showing Turkish young people what the festival life was all about and connecting our music scene with what was trending in the West.[1] [2]
History
edit edit sourceBefore 2003, music in Turkey was mostly stadium shows or clubs. There weren't any big camping festivals that lasted for days with lots of stages. The idea behind Rock'n Coke was to be Turkey's version of Glastonbury , a well,run, big event that could book famous acts from all over and still give local bands a chance to play.
Hezarfen Airfield was picked because it was perfect. It's a big, open space outside Istanbul, so they could build a whole temporary city, complete with camping, stages, food, and stuff to do.
Timeline
edit edit source2003: First Time
edit edit sourceThe first one was a gamble. People weren't sure Turkey could handle something this big.
- Headliners: Pet Shop Boys, The Cardigans, Suede.
- What Happened: Over 30,000 showed up, proving people wanted this. The first year leaned towards Britpop and synth,pop, which made it feel pretty sophisticated.
2004: Going Alternative
edit edit sourceThey started adding more types of music, especially harder alternative rock.
- Headliners: Muse, Iggy Pop, The Rasmus.
- Cool Fact: Everyone remembers Muse's set as one of the best ever. That year was also when the Burn Stage started getting popular for underground electronic and punk bands from around here.
2005: Dark and Heavy
edit edit sourceThis one sticks out because of all the different kinds of bands.
- Headliners: The Cure, Korn, The Offspring.
- Best Moments: The Cure played for three hours – a total legend. Korn brought nu,metal into the spotlight for Turkish fans.
2006: Britpop's Back
edit edit source- Headliners: Muse (back because everyone loved them), Placebo, Kasabian, Editors.
- Behind the Scenes: The camping area was better, and tons of people camped out, making the overnight thing a real tradition.
2007: Big Numbers
edit edit source- Headliners: The Smashing Pumpkins, Chris Cornell, Franz Ferdinand.
- FYI: The festival got some flak for being sponsored and corporate, but it held its own as a key part of the music biz, even if it was commercial.
2009: Back After a Break
edit edit sourceThey skipped 2008 because of the money issues worldwide, but came back with the priciest lineup yet.
- Headliners: Linkin Park, Nine Inch Nails, Jane's Addiction, Kaiser Chiefs.
- Crowd Action: Linkin Park had the biggest single,day crowd Hezarfen had ever seen.
2011: Mix of Industrial and Electronic
edit edit source- Headliners: Limp Bizkit, Moby, Travis, Skunk Anansie.
- The Vibe: This year had more cool visuals and electronic music than before.
2013: The End
edit edit sourceThe last one before they called it quits.
- Headliners: Arctic Monkeys, The Prodigy, Sigur Rós, Editors.
- What it Meant: Arctic Monkeys showed how big Indie Rock had gotten in Turkey.
The Downside
edit edit sourceThe festival got some pushback. Because it was so heavily sponsored, a rival festival called Barışarock (Peace,rock) started up, which was non,sponsored, anti,war, and anti,corporate. It made people think about the role of money in art, even though Rock'n Coke was still the main way big international bands came to Turkey.
Impacts
edit edit sourceThe festival brought millions of dollars to the local economy. Over 3,000 people worked there each year, from stagehands to security and food vendors. It also helped the local music equipment rental biz because the bands often needed gear from overseas.
Helping Local Bands
edit edit sourceThe festival helped local bands through the Rock'n Dark contest and the Burn Stage. Bands like Duman, Mor ve Ötesi, Athena, and Şebnem Ferah went from being local favorites to playing on the Main Stage, proving they could entertain a crowd just as well as the international bands.
Cancellation and termination of the event
edit edit sourceThe festival faced political pressure in subsequent years, and after the 2009 event, it was decided that the festival would be held every two years starting the following year. President Erdoğan described the young people making peace signs at the event as protesters. In 2013, a ban on alcohol companies sponsoring festivals was passed in parliament, eliminating the festival's largest source of funding. A farewell festival was held in 2013, and the festival came to an end.
References
edit edit source- ↑ dergy (2026-01-28). "Bugüne kadar Rock’n Coke’ta izlediğimiz unutulmaz performanslar" Dergy.
- ↑ Hürriyet (2006-06-24). "Rock’n Coke’a büyük ilgi" Hürriyet Gazetesi. Retrieved 2026-01-28.